OTTAWA — While Canadian governments, historians and museums are gearing up for the approaching 150th anniversary of Confederation in 2017, the country’s First Nations are preparing to mark a major constitutional milestone next week that they consider vastly more important than the Canada-creating BNA Act of 1867.

OTTAWA — A top United Nations expert on indigenous rights is calling on countries across the world to honour treaties with indigenous peoples, saying doing so is a crucial part of addressing historical wrongs and moving toward reconciliation.

OTTAWA — The grassroots indigenous rights movement that garnered momentum across Canada this winter — grabbing the attention of government and sparking global solidarity protests — has all but fizzled out online, according to a new analysis of Idle No More’s web traffic.

OTTAWA — Idle No More protesters are set to gather in at least 30 Canadian cities and will be joined by solidarity protests around the world as the indigenous grassroots movement marks a global day of action on Monday.

The last Canada heard of Attawapiskat Chief Theresa Spence and her beleaguered reserve in Northern Ontario, it was in relation to the appalling conditions on the First Nation, specifically the state of the alleged houses, which in too many cases were over-crowded dilapidated shacks and tents wholly unsuitable for a James Bay winter.